Positronium inhibition and quenching by organic electronic acceptors and charge transfer complexes

Positron lifetime measurements were performed on a series of organic electron acceptors and charge-transfer complexes in solution. The acceptors cause both positronium (Ps) inhibition (with maybe one exception) and quenching, but when an acceptor takes part in a charge-transfer complex the inhibition intensifies and the quenching almost vanishes. The reaction constants between ortho-Ps and the acceptors were determinded to be: 1.5 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for SO₂ in dioxane 3.7 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for SO₂ in n-heptane, 3.4 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for tetracyanoquinodimethane in tetrahydrofurane and 1.6 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for tetracyanoethylene in dioxane. From the ortho-Ps lifetimes in solutions containing charge-transfer complexes complexity constants were determined that were in reasonable agreement with constants obtained from optical data. The influence of acceptors and charge-transfers complexes on the Ps yield was interpreted in terms of the spur reaction model of Ps formation. Correlation was also made to gas phase reaction between electron acceptors and free electron, as well as to pulse radiolysis data.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of a new bipyridine-bipyrazoyl(pyridine)-thiocyanato-ruthenium(II) complex

The complex [Ru(II)(dcbpyH₂)(bdmpp)NCS](PF₆) (1) (where dcbpyH₂ is 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, bdmpp is 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazoyl)pyridine,) is synthesized and characterized extensively by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR 1D and 2D, mass spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electronic absorption spectroscopy and IR. The half-wave potential of the Ru(II)/Ru(III) redox couple was measured at E_1/2=+0.795 V versus Ag/AgCl in CH₃CN. The complex presents three intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) (d_M→π_L*) absorption bands centered at 383 (=21 300 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹), 432 (=22 400 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and 475 nm (=23 400 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹), respectively. The absorbance is extremely strong between 400 and 500 nm and even at 620 nm, the extinction coefficient is still high (=3768 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The strong π-acceptor property of the trans-isothiocyanate ligand compared with the Cl⁻ ligand is probably the cause of the blue-shift observed in complex 1. These properties make the complex potentially promising for the photosensitization process. The incorporation of TiO₂ photoelectrodes derivatized with this complex into a solar cell using a composite polymer/inorganic oxide solid-state electrolyte confirmed its sensitizing ability. Incident monochromatic photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) values of about 30% and overall energy conversion efficiency (η) of 1.7% were obtained.     

Interactions of thioflavin T with serum albumins: Spectroscopic analyses

The interaction of thioflavin T (ThT) with serum albumins from four different mammalian species i.e. human, bovine, porcine and rabbit, has been investigated by circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy and ITC. The binding constant (K) for HSA was found to be 9.9 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, 4.3 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ for RSA, 1.07 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ for PSA and 0.3 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ for BSA and the number of binding sites (n) were 1.14, 1.06, 0.94 and 0.8, respectively, which is very significant. By using unfolding pathway of HSA in the presence of urea, domain II of HSA has been assigned to possess binding site of ThT. Its binding constant is comparable to many drugs that bind at domain II of HSA, like salicylate, warfarin, digitoxin, etc. Acting force between HSA and ThT is showing that both hydrophobic and electrostatic forces have contributed for the interaction. ΔG_binding, ΔH and ΔS were calculated to be −28.46 kJ mol⁻¹, −3.50 kJ mol⁻¹ and 81.04 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The data described here will help to increase our understanding about the interaction of ThT with native proteins. The results also indicate that care must be taken while using ThT as a probe for detecting amyloid fibrils.     

Evaluation of a chloramine-T-selective electrode for catalytic titration of silver and mercury(II) based on iodide-catalyzed chloramine-T reactions

Semiautomatic methods are described for the catalytic titrimetric determination of microamounts of silver and mercury(II) using a chloramine-T-selective electrode as monitor. The methods are based on the inhibitory effect of Ag(I) and Hg(II) on the iodide-catalyzed chloramine-T-arsenite and chloramine-T-H₂O₂ reactions. Microamounts of silver in the range 0.2–200 μg (1 × 10⁻⁷−1 × 10⁻⁴ M) and of mercury(II) in the range 0.1–200 μg (2.5 × 10⁻⁸−5 × 10⁻⁵ M) were determined using the chloramine-T-As(III) indicator reaction. Mercury(II) in the range 4–2000 μg (1 × 10⁻⁶−5 × 10⁻⁴ M) was also determined using the chloramine-T-H₂O₂ indicator reaction. The accuracy and precision were in the range 0.1–1%.     

Investigation of the spectral properties of a squarylium near-infrared dye and its complexation with Fe(III) and Co(II) ions

The spectral features of the squarylium near-infrared (NIR) dye NN525 in different solutions and its complexation with several metal ions were investigated. The absorbance maximum of the dye is λ=663 nm in methanol. This value matches the output of a commercially available laser diode (650 nm), thus making use of such a source practical for excitation. The emission wavelength of the dye in methanol is λ_em=670 nm. The addition of either Fe(III) ion or Co(II) ion resulted in fluorescence quenching of the dye. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant, K_SV, was calculated from the Stern–Volmer plot to be K_SV=2.70×10⁷ M⁻¹ for Co(II) ion. The K_SV value for Fe(III) ion could not be established due to the non-linearity of the Stern–Volmer plot and the modified Stern–Volmer plot for this ion. The detection limit is 6.24×10⁻⁸ M for Fe(III) ion and 1.55×10⁻⁵ M for Co(III) ion. The molar ratio of the metal to the dye was established to be 1:1 for both metal ions. The stability constant, K_S, of the metal–dye complex was calculated to be 3.14×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Fe–dye complex and 2.64×10⁵ M⁻¹ for the Co–dye complex.     

Alkyl Ammonium Ion Selectivity of Hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene Triamide Derivative having the Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Group

The lower rim functionalized hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene triamide 4 with cone-conformation was synthesized from triol 1 by a stepwise reaction. The different extractability for alkali metal ions, transition metal ions, and alkyl ammonium ions from water into dichloromethane is discussed. Due to the strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the neighboring NH and CO groups in triamide 4, its affinity to metal cations was weakened. Triamide 4 shows a single selectivity to n-BuNH₃⁺. The anion complexation of triamide 4 was also studied by ¹H NMR titration experiments. Triamide 4 binds halides through the intermolecular hydrogen bonding among the NH hydrogens of amide in a 1:1 fashion in CDCl₃. The association constants calculated from these changes in chemical shifts of the amide protons are K_a = 223 M⁻¹ for Cl⁻ and K_a = 71.7 M⁻¹ for Br⁻. Triamide 4 shows a preference for Cl⁻ complexation than Br⁻ complexation.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on silver electrodes as a technical tool in the study of the electrochemical reduction of cyanopyridines and in quantitative analysis

The SER spectra of 4-, 3- and 2-cyanopyridines adsorbed on a silver electrode are presented. The results show that cyanopyridines may adsorb in two different orientations, end-on (with the N atom of the Py ring bound to the surface) and flat, and that for potentials more negative than −1.1 V (SCE), the cyanopyridine radical anions can also be detected. The SERS intensity vs. potential curves show more than one potential of maximum SERS intensity which are assigned to the existence of more than one species on the electrode surface. The analytical potentially of SERS on electrodes has also been investigated. It is shown that the relative SERS intensity (ν_CN of the 4-CNPy (2120 cm⁻)/breathing mode of Py (1008 cm⁻¹)), at a fixed Py bulk concentration and at a fixed potential and exciting radiation, depends linearly on the 4-CNPy bulk concentration in the range 10⁻⁷-10⁻⁵M. The selectivity of the technique has also been investigated by studying the SER spectrum and the SERS intensity vs. potential curves for a mixture of 10⁻³M 4-CNPy, pyridine (Py) and 4-methylpyridine(4-MePy) in 0.1 M KCl aqueous solution.     

Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt(II) with 2-(3′-sulfobenzoyl)pyridine benzoylhydrazone

A simple method has been described for the Spectrophotometric determination of cobalt(II) with 2-(3′-sulfobenzoyl)pyridine benzoylhydrazone (SBPBH). In aqueous solution, cobalt(II) reacts with SBPBH to form a yellow complex, which is not destroyed even by the addition of 3.8 M perchloric acid. The absorption maximum of the complex in 1.5 M perchloric acid medium was found to be 400 nm; the molar absorptivity was 2.17 × 10⁴ liters mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The proposed method is fairly selective and has been applied to the determination of cobalt in standard alloy steel samples.     

Piezoelectric Sensor in Situ Monitoring Adsorption of Fibrinogen and Surfactant onto a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Alkanethiols

This report describes the use of a piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) sensor to investigate the nonspecific adsorption of fibrinogen (FN) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) onto a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of alkanethiols on gold. The change in adsorption mass was monitored in situ by the PQC sensor. A kinetics model was proposed to describe the adsorption of the FN and SDS on the hydrophobic SAM surface. The adsorption kinetics parameters were determined from the responses of the PQC. The adsorption and desorption rate constants of the FN on the SAM surface were estimated to be (6.18 ± 0.53) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and (6.74 ± 0.72) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively. The rate constants for the adsorption and desorption of SDS on the SAM are (24.3 ± 1.4 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and (1.52 ± 0.11) × 10⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. The adsorption of SDS on the SAM was reversible. The fractional coverage of the FN on the SAM surface was estimated from kinetics analyses to be 42–86% for the FN concentration range 25–400 μg/ml. Over 80% of the FN is irreversibly adsorbed on the SAM surface with respect to dilution of the bulk phase. The fraction of FN reversibly adsorbed increases with the bulk concentration of FN.     

Chemically amplified kojic acid responses of tyrosinase-based biosensor, based on inhibitory effect to substrate recycling driven by tyrosinase and -ascorbic acid

A tyrosinase-based chemically amplified biosensor, based on the substrate recycling of polyphenols driven by tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation and chemical reduction by -ascorbic acid (AsA), has been utilized for the highly sensitive detection of inhibitors of tyrosinase such as kojic acid, benzoic and SCN⁻ ion. The amplified current response of immobilized tyrosinase-coupling oxygen electrode due to the recycling was suppressed by the addition of inhibitors, and a highly amplified response to kojic acid over other inhibitors was observed in the presence of 5 mM AsA. The amplification factor (AF) of kojic acid is substantially proportional to the AF of substrates, and the AF for 1 × 10⁻⁷ M kojic acid was increased by up to a factor of 143 when 1 × 10⁻⁵ M dopamine was used as a competitive substrate in the presence of 5 mM AsA. The amplified calibration curve of kojic acid obtained with 5 mM AsA was shifted towards more than a two decades lower concentration range compared with that of the non-amplified response, and the detection limit of kojic acid was lowered to 7 × 10⁻⁸ M.     

Determination of Captropril using adsorptive cathodic differential pulse stripping voltammetry with the HMDE

A voltammetric method for the determination of 3-mercapto-D-2-methylpropanoyl-L-proline, a hypotensive drug whose pharmaceutical name is Captopril (CPT), in the concentration range from 9.0×10⁻¹⁰M to 3×10⁻⁶M, is described. In this range the peak current increases linearly with drug concentration even when different collection periods are used. A self-cleaning Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode (HMDE) was used and a negative Differential Pulse potential (DP) was applied to the indicator electrode. The stripping peak of CPT splits into two peaks as soon as the concentration is increased over about 10⁻⁵M; in the oxidation DP scan, instead, this splitting is observed at a concentration of 2.0×10⁻⁴M. Some attempts were made to verify the suitability of other techniques such as Alternating Current polarography (AC) and the use of a different electrode, the Wax-Impregnated Graphite Electrode (WIGE).     

Fluorometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fluoride Ion Using an Expanded Porphyrin

A highly selective and sensitive method of fluorometry is described for determination of the fluoride ion at the parts per billion level via the ion-pair complex formation of the fluoride ion with an expanded prophyrin [2,23-diethyl-8,17-bis(2-ethoxycarbonylethyl)-3,7,12,13,18,22-hexamethylsapphyrin (H₃sap)]. The ion-pair complex gives out an enhanced fluorescence intensity at 680 nm on excitation at 450 nm. Since the present method is based on a direct reaction of the fluoride ion with the sappyrin, a 200-fold amount of the aluminum (III) ion [10⁻⁴M (M = mol dm⁻³)] and a 2000-fold amount of the iron(III) ion (10⁻³M) over the fluoride ion did not interfere with determination of the fluoride ion at concentrations as low as 5 × 10⁻⁷M in the presence of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-teraacetic acid. The proposed method was applied to determination of the fluoride ion in various water samples (tap water, river water, rain water, underground water, and hot spring water) and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Differential pulse polarographic determination of some organotin(IV) compounds in dimethyl sulfoxide

The differential pulse polarographic behavior of two series of organotin(IV) compounds having the general formula R_xSnCl_{4 − x} (R = Me, Ph; x = 1, 2, 3, 4) has been investigated in DMSO. The peaks obtained are recommended for the trace determination of these compounds. Linear calibration curves are obtained over the concentration range 10⁻⁴ –10⁻⁶ M.     

Binding of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil to human serum albumin destabilized by chemical denaturants

We compared the binding affinity of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) with native and destabilized human serum albumin (HSA) as a model to assess the binding ability of albumin in patients suffering from chronic liver or renal diseases. Urea (U) and guanidine hydrochloride (Gu·HCl) at a concentration of 3.0 M were used as denaturation agents.Increasing the concentration of PTU from 0.8 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.20 × 10⁻⁴ M in the systems with HSA causes a decrease in fluorescence intensity of the protein excited with both 280 and 295 nm wavelengths. The results indicate that urea and Gu·HCl bind to the carbonyl group and then to the NH-group. To determine binding constants we used the Scatchard plots. The presence of two classes of HSA–PTU binding sites was observed. The binding constants (K_b) are equal to 1.99 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 1.50 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ at λ_ex = 280 nm, 5.20 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 1.65 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ at λ_ex = 295 nm. At λ_ex = 280 nm the number of drug molecules per protein molecule is a_I = 1.45 and a_II = 1.32 for I and II binding sites, respectively. At λ_ex = 295 nm they are a_I = 0.63 and a_II = 1.54 for the I and II binding sites.The estimation of the binding ability of changed albumin in the uremic and diabetic patients suffering from chronic liver or renal diseases is very important for safety and effective therapy.     

Palladized aluminum electrode covered by Prussian blue film as an effective transducer for electrocatalytic oxidation and hydrodynamic amperometry of N-acetyl-cysteine and glutathione

The mediated oxidation of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GL) at the palladized aluminum electrode modified by Prussian blue film (PB/Pd–Al) is described. The catalytic activity of PB/Pd–Al was explored in terms of Fe^III[Fe^III(CN)₆]/Fe^III[Fe^II(CN)₆]¹⁻ system by taking advantage of the metallic palladium layer inserted between PB film and Al, as an electron-transfer bridge. The best mediated oxidation of NAC and GL on the PB/Pd–Al electrode was achieved in 0.5 M KNO₃ + 0.2 M potassium acetate of pH 2. The mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic oxidation reactions of the both compounds were monitored by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The charge transfer-rate limiting step as well as overall oxidation reaction of NAC or GL is found to be a one-electron abstraction. The values of transfer coefficients α, catalytic rate constant k and diffusion coefficient D are 0.5, 3.2 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ for NAC and 0.5, 2.1 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 3.7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ for GL, respectively. The modifying layers on the Pd–Al substrate have reproducible behavior and a high level of stability in the electrolyte solutions. The modified electrode is exploited for hydrodynamic amperometry of NAC and GL. The amperometric calibration graph is linear in concentration ranges 2 × 10⁻⁶–40 × 10⁻⁶ for NAC and 5 × 10⁻⁷–18 × 10⁻⁶ M for GL and the detection limits are 5.4 × 10⁻⁷ and 4.6 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively.     

Individual and simultaneous fluorimetric determination of glycine and cysteine by flow injection analysis

A dual-channel flow injection configuration is proposed for individual and simultaneous determinations of glycine and cysteine (based on their reaction with phthaldialdehyde) in the range 1 × 10⁻⁷ – 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ M, with relative standard deviations of ± 1.7 and ± 1.3%, respectively, and a sampling frequency of 75–80 hr⁻¹ for both analytes. The inclusion of a selecting valve in the configuration allows the simultaneous determination of these analytes in the concentration range achieved in their individual determinations. The resolution of mixtures is feasible with average errors of ± 2.2%.     

Preparation of a solid membrane lead(II) diethyldithiocarbamate electrode and its application for direct and indirect anion determination

A lead(II) selective electrode has been developed. This electrode is essentially formed by a lead wire, one end of which is coated with lead(II) diethyldithiocarbamate. The response is Nernstian for lead ions in a 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁵M concentration range. The direct determination of this element and the indirect determination of several anions are possible.     

Self-assembly of the pre-formed inclusion complexes between cyclodextrins and alkanethiols on gold electrodes

A new kind of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed in aqueous solution through the pre-formed inclusion complexes (abbreviated CD · C_n) between α, β-cyclodextrins (CDs) and alkanethiols (CH₃(CH₂)_n−1)SH, n = 10, 14 and 18) was prepared successfully on gold electrodes. High-resolution ¹H NMR was used to confirm the formation of CD · C_n. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to characterize the resulting SAMs (denoted as M_CD·Cn). It was found that M_CD·Cn were more stable against repeated potential cycling in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ than SAMs of CH₃(CH₂)_n−1SH (denoted as M_Cn), with a relative sequence of M_β−CD·Cn > M_α−CD·Cn > M_Cn. In addition, an order of blocking the electron transfer between gold electrodes and redox couples (both Fe(CN)³₆ and Ru(NH₃)³⁴₆) in solution, M_CD·C10 > M_CD·C14 > M_CD·C18, was observed. A plausible explanation is provided to elucidate some of the observations.     

Spectrophotometric study of pseudopurpurin-Pd(II) dimer complex. Spectrophotometric determination of traces of Pd(II)

We have studied spectrophotometrically the Pseudopurpurin-Pd(II) complex in an ethanolic-water medium ¦Ethanolamine ¦_optimum = 4 × 10⁻¹M; λ = 670 nm; 20% H₂O; stable for at least 4 hr; ¦Reagent¦_optimum = 5 × 10⁻⁵M; stoichiometry 2:2; log K = 17.7. A new method for the spectrophotometric determination of Pd traces is proposed for concentrations between 0.30 and 2.40 ppm. The relative error and the interferences of the method have been investigated.     

Differential pulse polarography as a tool for the determination of trace levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+) in aqueous solution

The differential pulse polarographic behavior of NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ has been investigated in phosphate buffer. The peaks obtained at pH 8.0 are recommended for the trace determination of these compounds. Linear calibration curves are obtained over the concentration ranges from 2.6 × 10⁻⁷ to 2.6 × 10⁻⁵M for NAD⁺ and from 2 × 10⁻⁶ to 4 × 10⁻⁵ for NADP⁺.